Bailer



J 1932- G. w. MILLER 1,862,628

BAILER Original Filed July 28, 1927 K I M /f (H fl; III w I NVENTQR QageWM/kr.

ATTORNEY.

Patented June 14, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GEORGE W. MILLER, 01 S APULPA, OKLAHOMA, ASSIGNOB TO MILLER COMBINATION BAILEB, AND PUMP COMPANY, OF SAI'ULPA, OKLAHOMA, A CORPORATION OF OKLAHOMA BAILER Originialapplieaition filed July 28, 1927, Serial No. 125,485, Divided and this application filed August 24,

1928. Serial No. 801,747.

My invention relates to a combination pump and bailer, and particularly to a device of that character for cleaning or pumping oil wells, the present invention being a division of my application, Serial No. 125,- 485 filed. July 28, 1927, and having for its principal object to adapt the device for carrying maximum loads under ordinary work ing conditions.

In drilling an oil well with standard tools the hole is formed by reciprocating a drill bit, which is supported from a sheave on a crown block at the top of a derrick; water being supplied to the hole to soften the formations through which the hole is made, particularly during initial drilling operations, the mud thus formed being removed with a bailer usually of a type including a barrel or bucket having an automatic valve in its lower end for admitting fluid to the barrel as the latter is lowered, and within which the fluid is trapped when the barrel is raised. As the hole is drilled to greater depths it passes through water stratum from which the hole is flooded, necessitating casing of the well,

the water supplied from the stratum then being bailed to facilitate further drilling operations.

When a well is completed, detritus flowing into the well with the oil must be removed at intervals. This in some cases is accomplished with the bailer, and in other cases the fluid itself is pumped from the well with a bailer of the general construction above disclosed.

In order to facilitate charging of the bailer barrel or bucket valved plungers are employed for sucking charges into the bailer arrel, such an arran ement being particularly advantageous w en the fluid contains gravel or relatively large .pieces of detritus which would not otherwise pass to the barrel in suspension in the fluid.

As wells with which the bailer is employed are often of great depth it is desirable that the barrels have a maximum capacity in order that the greatest possible quantity of fluid be removed at each operation of the bailer. As the diameter of the well hole is limited, capacity of the. bailer can be inbarrel of maximum length, and in accomplishing this object I have provided improved details of structure hereinafter described and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a bailer embodying my invention illustrated in connection with a derrick of ordinary construction.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal section of the bailer particularly illustratin coupliing of the operating cable with the p unger ro Referring more in detail'to the drawing:

1' designates a derrick set over a well indicated by the casing 52, and including the crown block 3, having a rope sheave 4, over which an operating cable 5 is run. 6 designates a pump or bailer barrel having a head 7 at its lower end provided with intake ports 8 leading to a throat 9, having a valve seat 10 at the top for a flap valve 11 pivoted on a pin 12 carried by the top of the head, sothat the valve will open automatically under pressure of fluid in the well when the barrel is let into the fluid. The barrel 6 is open at the top and there provided with a bail 13 having a guide collar 14 for the operating cable 5. 15 designates a tubular plunger adapted for reciprocation in the barrel 6, and having an upwardly facing valve seat 16 at its upper end. Mounted transversely within the upper end of the plunger is a cross-bar 17, and attached to the and one side thereof and within which the end of the cable is anchored by a metal filler 21 which may be poured about the cable to fill the o ening.- The end of the rod is referably threaded into the lower end of e block 19.

22 designates a valve member, including a collar 23 slidable on the rod 18, and having a valve plate 24 cooperative with the seat 16 in the top of the plunger. With the bailer constructed and assembled with the operating cable as described, the bailer may be sus nded from the cable with the top of the l ock 19 engagin the bail 13 with the plunger at the top 0 the barrel 6, and the valve 22 seated by gravity on the top of the plunger. When the bailer, upon being let into the well, reaches the fluid at the bottom of the well hole the valve 11 automatically opens to admit the fluid, and the barrel being supported at the bottom of the well, the plunger continues to travel downwardly in the barrel under its own weight supplemented by wei ht of the fluid and of the cable until the pIunger rests on the lower portion of the barrel.

When the plunger is lifted by reeling of the operating cable the valve 22 is closed under weight of the fluid in the well above the bailer and a suction is created within the barrel tending to draw fluid and detritus into the barrel through the throat 9. When the barrel is filled the valve 11 resumes its seat and the bailer is elevated through the well with its load, which may be discharged in accordance with common practice when the bailer is removed from the well.

By limiting the length of the rod 18 I avoid pro ection o the rod from the bailer and am able to carry the barrel to near the 'top of the derrick so that it is possible to employ a longer barrel than could be used if a full length rigid rod were employed, in this way increasing-the capacity of the bailer.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a combined pump and bailer includ ing a barrel having an upwardly opening valve at its lower end and a rope guide at its upper end, a tubular plunger slidable in the barrel having an upwardly facing valve seat at its upper end, a cross bar in said plunger, a rigid rod having its lower end hingedly connected'with said cross bar below said seat and extended through said valve seat, a flexible line slidably extended through said guide, a coupling on said'line having a threaded socket for receiving the upper end of said rod, and a plate valve slidable on the rod and cooperative with said seat to close the plunger on upstroke of the plunger.

2. In a combined pump and bailer including a barrel having an upwardly opening valve at its lower end and a rope guide at its lunger slidable in the upper end, a tubular ed upper end forming barrel having a beve an upwardly facing valve seat at its upper 

